The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program will continue as a four-year degree, following the decision by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to withdraw its earlier plan to make the program five years long.
PMDC officials informed the Senate Standing Committee on Health that the council has reversed its previous decision to extend BDS education to five years. The committee has directed PMDC to issue a formal notification confirming the four-year duration.
BDS Was Previously Extended to Five Years
In November 2024, PMDC had announced that the BDS program would be increased from four years to five years, starting from the 2024–25 academic session. The decision was based on recommendations from dental experts who wanted to bring Pakistan's dental education system closer to international standards.
However, the implementation was later postponed for one year in January 2025 after private dental colleges raised concerns about the additional requirements, including infrastructure, faculty, and other resources.
Now, PMDC has withdrawn the five-year plan and restored the BDS program to four years.
The decision will provide greater clarity for dental students, applicants, and colleges regarding the duration of the BDS degree.
